The Sprout
Brownies in their Easter Bonnets
The newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Issue 137 May 2019
The Sprout
Issue 137, May 2019
Contents
3 Letters to the Editor
5 The Scouts and the Pavilion
6 Statements from Candidates
23 Botley and Kennington PPG
25 Planning Applications
27 Fabulous 42nd Street
29 Hedgehogs needing Help
31 Brownies get Crafty
35 Cumnor Choral Concert
37 Picturing Botley
39 Help with your Under Fives
41 Randoms
43 Local Organizations
From the Editor
This is the month when things could change in our locality, as a new
14-strong Parish Council will be elected on 2nd May. There is a list of
candidates, starting on page 6, to give you an idea of who you can vote
for. We’ll be voting for our two District Councillors at the same time.
The Vale has more power than the parish, but we only have two
councillors, so although their input is critical, it isn’t quite so close to
home. The Chair of the Pavilion Trustees has written a reply (p.6) to the
Scouts case, aired last month, and the Chair of the Patients
Participation Group of the local medical practice have sent an account
of their recent AGM (p.23). On a lighter note, there are reviews of two
very different musical evenings (pp27 and 35), and a reminder about
Botley’s contribution towards the County’s Artweeks celebration of the
Visual Arts (p41). There’s also notice of a competition for local amateur
photographers (p37), and an invitation to mark Hedgehog Awareness
Week by making life easier for our prickly friends (p29). Then theres
an account of the varied help available to parents of children under five
at Botley Bridges, still there for us, despite the loss of local authority
funding. They are looking for volunteers, and if you can help, please
do come forward input at this early stage in our children’s lives is
priceless. Finally, the Brownies have been a bit crowded out this
month, so we are happy to show a seasonal photo of them in their
Easter bonnets on our cover. Happy reading!
Ag MacKeith
Letters to the Editor
Abandoned bicycles in Elms Rise estate
I wonder what the solution might be to the increasing practice around
Elms Rise estate of chaining and locking apparently redundant and
broken bicycles to some of the street furniture. For many months now
one has been locked to the Arthray Road sign on the corner of Arthray
Road and Westminster Way. Another is chained to a light post (I think)
by the bus stop in the middle of St Paul's Crescent. A third one was,
for quite some time, chained to the sign opposite the post box in St
Paul's Crescent. And a fourth was also there for a little while.
These bikes cannot be moved without a considerable amount of effort
and appropriate tools, as they have been locked either with D-locks
or heavy duty chains. How can they be disposed of, and how can we
best encourage our community to dispose of unwanted bikes in a
better way?
Alison Le Cornu
Botley School’s 80th Birthday
Did you know that this academic year, 2018 to 2019, is the year we
celebrate Botley School’s 80th birthday? The school has seen many
changes over the years, survived a world war and has been
relentlessly helping children on their learning journey at the heart of
this community! We would love to mark this occasion with a special
event, so on July 18th, Botley School will be celebrating with a
birthday garden tea party and live entertainment!!! We are keen to
get in contact with previous students who have been at the school
and ask you to share your memories with us (pictures, uniforms,
anecdotes, etc.) Please get in touch via our email
fobs1930@gmail.com or phone 07758 253063.
If you can help in any way with our fundraising or sponsorship wed
love to hear from you, too! We are hoping many old students will join
us, so let’s make this an event to remember, and keep your fingers
crossed for good weather!
Alex Neil (Acting Head) and Laura Jones (FOBS Chair)
The Scouts and the Pavilion
Following presentations from the Parish Council and the Scouts, with
regard to the proposed new Louie Memorial Pavilion plans, (as well as a
number of factually incorrect anonymous leaflets that are in circulation),
I thought it necessary to put forward my point of view, having been
Chairman of the Pavilion Trustees for some time.
We need a new building in the upper field. Both the existing Pavilion
building and the Scout Hut are in need of replacement. It is misleading
to suggest the Scout Hut is a perfectly viable building as it is, without
substantial investment. It is merely in a better structural state than the
Pavilion. Following assessment by the Consultant, refurbishment of
either building was not considered a good value option for the
community.
The plan to replace both buildings has been in mind for several years.
This was known to be the plan of the Parish Council, and was something
the Pavilion Trust and the Scouts were fully aware of. This is why
successive applications over the last five years or so to extend the
Scouts lease were turned down. The Trustees have simply asked that
the new building be a replacement for the existing two buildings. The
user rooms are not increased in total area compared to those in the
existing buildings. Any increase in size is merely to reflect current
requirements for things like changing rooms, toilets and accessibility. It
would be illogical to reduce the size of the user rooms to allow for these
vital changes. It would not be in the interests of the community using the
building.
Other than asking for the new building to offer two rooms of comparative
size to the user rooms in the existing buildings, the Pavilion Trust has
made no other stipulations, aside from improved storage and changing
rooms that meet modern requirements/Sport England recommendations.
The Scouts have made a number of comments, which the plans have
been revised to accommodate. These comments have highlighted
problems, but never suggested solutions or come from an approach of
compromise, as far as I am aware. This will be a building for all to use
the Scouts and the existing Pavilion Trust will have to adopt a new, more
open-minded approach to find a way forward. In these funding-starved
times, it would be irresponsible for the Parish Council to spend public
money on a building where areas were restricted to solely serve one fixed
group.
The existing Pavilion Trust is very keen to work with the Scouts in a new
facility, to the benefit of all users and the community. When the new
building is complete, the Scouts (should they wish to take this opportunity
to use a building that they have neither, to my knowledge, been asked to
fund nor offered to source funding towards), they would not be external
users - they could be an active part of the Trust itself. This would mean
they could work with other Trustees to use rents (of football pitch and the
facility to other external users) to cover the running costs. Thus, the cost
to them would be reduced. The Trust does not operate to generate profit,
merely to cover costs and provide a facility for all community use, as per
the original bequest.
The new building will mean change and, with multiple groups involved,
this rarely means a perfect solution that totally satisfies everyone. We
must all be ready to adapt and compromise. We have had too many
years of inactivity on this front. Leaving everything as it stands is not a
solution, it would be a huge disservice to our community, our future and
our children. Our facilities have been neglected and gone without
improvement for far too long, whilst the demands put upon them
increase, year on year. We must improve our facilities. I hope that recent
negative non constructive comments and anonymous, incorrect leaflets
do not scupper this opportunity.
Emmett Casley
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NORTH HINKSEY PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS
STATEMENTS FROM CANDIDATES
A total of 22 candidates have offered themselves for election to the 14
places on the Parish Council on 2nd May 2019, all but 5 of them have
sent statements, listed below. The District Council elections for two
District Councillors take place at the same time, but these are party
political. You can vote for Emily Smith and Debby Hallett for the Lib
Dems, for Erica Davis and Maurice O’Donoghue for Labour, for James
Moreton Wakely and Michael Murray for the Conservatives, or for
Katherine Phillips for the Green Party. Editor
Pauline Allen
I have lived with my family in the parish for
41 years. I am not a member of any
political party or group. I care very much
about Local Priorities and Local Issues. If
elected, I will campaign against
Uncontrolled Parking. I am very much
against unnecessary development which
is gradually destroying our green open spaces and wildlife. I will also
fight to get developers to complete Unfinished Roads and Works on
local estates. I will support the Scouts with the Renewal of their
Lease. I believe in preserving the Quality of Life in this area for all age
groups. I want to see Improved Communication and Consultation. I
will do my best to speak up for the concerns of local residents and
represent their views.
Alistair Bastin
I'd like to help Botley and North Hinksey
become a better place for all of us to live, work
and raise families. I've lived in Oxford for
decades, and moved to Botley a few years ago.
I first met the Parish Council while working on a
planning issue, and after the Sprout's request
for new Councillors I thought I'd throw my hat
into the ring. I'm interested in helping the Parish
achieve its goals, so I'm offering my skills in
communication, analysis and campaigning to
contribute to all of this. I ask for your support.
You can read more at www.communitycouncillors.uk
Lorna Berrett
In four years as a Parish Councillor I’ve learned
a lot and seen what can be achieved. I’ve
helped to improve communications with the new
NHPC website and Facebook page. As chair of
the Seacourt Hall Management Committee I’ve
built good relationships with Mace and SDC,
negotiating to ensure we have the best hall
facilities for the community. I walk past the
growing hub building daily and I’m excited about
the potential of the new Hall. Together with the
proposals for the Pavilion we have opportunities
to create an even better Botley for our growing community. Read
more at www.CommunityCouncillors.uk
Darren Blase
I have attended Parish Council meetings as a parishioner for as long as
I have managed the North Hinksey Youth Club,
that is over 7 years. The time is right to stand and
help secure the future for our young people. I
support the need for a new sports/community
building to replace the current, rather old and run-
down buildings; hopefully the new Pavilion will give
local groups a suitable and sustainable building for
the next 50 years. To further support the needs of
the community, let’s take this opportunity to ask
again, is there still strong support for a multi-use
wheeled facility to replace the Botley Skate Bowl?
Read more at www.CommunityCouncillors.uk
Judi Bolder
I have lived in North Hinksey most of my life and
have been a parish councillor for the past four
years, working towards improving facilities for our
young people. Botley was highlighted in a Vale of
White Horse report 2009 as having inadequate
facilities for teenagers, and I feel we are now
making headway with the installation of the new
play equipment on the Louie Memorial fields and
the plans for the redevelopment of the Pavilion
hopefully to include a skatepark. I would like to
have the opportunity to see this project through to
completion. I believe that Councillors For Our
Community can achieve this and so much more.
You can read all about us at www.CommunityCouncillors.uk
Chris Church
I’ve lived and run a business here in Botley
since 2012. I formerly worked in London,
though I was born in Oxford. I have been on
the Parish Council for five years. I founded
the ‘Best of Botley awards in 2016 to
celebrate local community life I’d like to
see that become an annual event. Botley
faces many pressures new development,
traffic, air pollution, and the Expressway.
The parish council has only limited powers,
so we need to use those powers as
effectively as possible. We need a council
that works as hard as it can to help create
an even better Botley. You can read more at
www.CommunityCouncillors.uk
Erica Davis
Running for Parish Council Election
because I am committed in community
involvement and engagement. Believe in
keeping North Hinksey green and in
community sustainability. With two teenage
children I am keen to ensure that young
people are actively involved in the local
issues which affect them. Community Safety
is a top priority as is fighting austerity. I love
North Hinksey and as a long standing
resident want to improve the lives of those
who live and work in the parish.
Martin Dowie No information received
Ann Dykes
I have served on the Parish Council for over
20 years, working on the Planning, Allotments
and Remembrance Committees and also
representing the Parish Council on the
Seacourt Hall Management Committee (which
is a charity body set up to run the Seacourt
Community Hall for the benefit of all the
Parish). If elected again I will endeavour to
continue to serve the community in a fair and
honest way. I find it a very rewarding job and
a privilege to serve the community. You can
read more about me at
www.Community.Councillors.uk
Steve Elliott
Having lived in Botley for 34 years and brought
up my family here I feel that Botley is a great
place to live. The Parish Council has a great
opportunity to work with the developers of West
Way Place to build a new hall for the community
and also with the District Council to get a new
Pavilion built on the upper Louie Memorial
playing field. Having been a parish councillor
some years ago when that Council was able to
attract significant external funding, I know with
your vote, we can help to do this again. Read
more about Councillors for Our Community on
www.Community.Councillors.uk
Graham Fairclough
While new to standing as a Parish Councillor I
am not new to Botley having grown up on Elms
Rise and attended Botley Primary and Matthew
Arnold Schools. Since returning to the area I
have been busy establishing the Tilbury Fields
Residents Association, where I am now the
Chair. Having worked for the Residents to
ensure that the estate is completed to the levels
expected, now is the time to channel my energy
and efforts into supporting the wider Botley
community, bringing new enthusiasm to ensure
that residents of all ages, experience the
opportunities that our great parish has to offer.
Read more here www.CommunityCouncillors.uk
Esmail Gholami Babaahmadi no information received
Nima Gholami Babaahmadi no information received
Chris Hall no information received
(Maria) Laura Jones
I work organising logistics and budgets. I like
finding solutions to problems that arise, and I
believe in a community that works together
and listens to each other. We moved to Botley
in 2012 and were taken by the sense of
community. When my kids started school I
started campaigning against air pollution with
other parents, as Botley and North Hinksey
Schools are affected by the A34. I chair FOBS
(Friends of Botley School), we organise
parents to apply for grants and run fundraising
events. I love Botley and want a beautiful and
safe neighbourhood for the whole community.
Read more at www.CommunityCouncillors.uk
David Kay
As a Parish Councillor since 2012, and Chairman for the past four
years, I have been involved in all of the
Council’s major activities from planning to
communications to leisure facilities. These
include significant involvement in the Botley
Centre redevelopment, both as lead NHPC
representative and a member of the Seacourt
Hall Management Committee, guiding the
Neighbourhood Plan Team in the production
of a hugely beneficial Plan to help protect
what we cherish locally, and leading Council’s
efforts opposing the proposed Oxford to
Cambridge Expressway, which could
potentially be massively damaging to our
community. Read more at www.CommunityCouncillors.uk
Ag MacKeith
I’ve lived in Botley for ages, and if I’m elected this will be my fifth term
on the Parish Council. While my children
were growing up I joined local campaigns,
and together we saved the nursery school
(1980), built Botley Skatebowl (1990), and
held tight to our library (1998 and 2010). As
the editor of the Sprout, I help to keep the
parish in touch. I’m glad to have had a hand
in the sustainable building part of the
Neighbourhood Plan, and I think it’s time
we revisited the arguments for and against
a skate park, so the parish can move on
from the stalemate that followed the huge
2012 petition. There’s more about
Councillors for our Community on this
website www.CommunityCouncillors.uk.
John Marriott
I stand for election to represent everyone in all areas of this Parish by
respecting a broad range of opinion, listening to local people on local
issues and prioritising residents' views. I
am in favour of improved communications
and transparency from the Parish Council,
leisure facilities and a new Pavilion that
work for the whole community. I regularly
help with the local conservation group the
North Hinksey Conservation Volunteers,
am an active supporter of our green
spaces and have major concerns over
local transport issues for commuters and
cyclists. I have helped with the
Remembrance Day arrangements in the
past and have supported local residents
on planning matters.
Maurice O’Donoghue
This is the first time I’ve been a candidate for
the Parish Council, though I’ve been
involved in community activities for years.
I’ve lived in Botley for 18 years with my wife,
a qualified childminder, and our young son,
who attends Bartholomew School. I recently
qualified as a rugby coach, to help my sons
rugby development, I’d like to give a fresh
input on leisure and youth activities in the
area, as a parent and a coach. I’m also
interested in contributing on local
environmental matters, including several
large projects which threaten the Green Belt
and the character of the area, such as the
Flood Alleviation Scheme, the Oxford-Cambridge Expressway and
the proposed new pavilion on the Louie Memorial Fields.
Caroline Potter
My family and I have called Botley home for
over 10 years. I got involved locally as a co-
chair of West Way Community Concern in
2013, and I’ve been working to support and
improve our valued community resources
ever since. As a current Parish Councillor
I’ve focused my efforts on securing high
quality facilities for all ages through the West
Way redevelopment and at the Louie
Memorial Playing Fields. There is still lots of
work to do planning approvals, detailed
designs, fundraising, etc. If re-elected I will
give my full commitment to getting these projects done. Read more
at www.CommunityCouncillors.uk
Andrew Pritchard no information received
Adam Rankin
I am currently serving as a Parish Councillor and wish to continue in
the work that is bringing an even better
Botley. Improved leisure facilities are key;
the new equipment for older children already
installed on the LM Field is popular. A new
pavilion will promote the fields as the
recreational heart of the Parish. As Vice-
Chair of the Planning Committee, I believe it
is important that we have our say on local
housing and on the way infrastructure
develops. Liaison with SDC over West Way
Place & our new Community Hub are also
vital. Please read more at
www.CommunityCouncillors.uk
Botley and Kennington PPG AGM on 19th March
A minute’s silence was held before the meeting for a PPG member
from Kennington: Gerry Bowen Thomas, who sadly passed away
earlier in the month. He was a well-respected member of the group
who always offered words of advice or a different perspective on an
issue. He died just before the Six Nations final but as a Welshman
and rugby supporter he would have been very proud.
The PPG meetings have run bimonthly, alternating between Botley
and Kennington. Meetings are held in the reception areas and are
open to all patients who want to attend. The PPG committee, Practice
Manager and at least one GP usually attend the meeting and are
extremely informative. Historically, timing has been an issue:
meetings commence at 6pm, which has made it difficult for some
people to attend. So we would be keen to know what might better
suit; Kennington meets on Mondays, Botley on Wednesdays.
Health talks have been well attended. A talk in February by Dr
McKewen on reducing the risks of cancer was appreciated by twenty
Kennington and Botley residents. We note that it is difficult to get
people to come across from Botley and vice versa.
It has been quite a frustrating year in terms of getting the Action Plan
off the ground, although one of the items on the plan – the information
screen for Kennington was purchased by the practice, although this
has not been universally welcomed, as some dislike having their
names displayed on the screen in the waiting room.
We want to do more with the reception area in Kennington. It is hoped
that it will eventually be enlarged to enable greater confidentiality for
patients. We plan to extend it out into the covered area and make it
more aesthetically pleasing and easier to use for wheelchair users
and carers with buggies etc. But as the practice does not own the
building, we have to wait for NHS Properties to undertake the
development.
In the summer of 2018, we posed various questions to the Practice
Manager and the Q&As were published in the Chronicle and Sprout
in December. The majority of the questions related to Kennington but
there has been positive feedback, and so we plan to have a future
session. If you have a question come along to a meeting or email me
(sybuck@hotmail.co.uk) and I’ll ask it on your behalf.
We also hope to have a talk in the Autumn by Age Concern in relation
to easing winter pressures on acute services (date to be confirmed).
As Chair I have attended meetings for all the PPG Chairs of Oxford City.
This Forum is supported by Healthwatch, which keeps us up to date with
developments. The NHS is under great pressure and these meetings are
very useful in helping us understand and disseminate information to
other patients. Plans are afoot to make further changes in the structure
of PPGs which we are assured will have no negative impact on patients
experience. We await clarification from the Clinical Commissioning
Group.
There has been a move by the NHS to look at recruiting volunteers to
help support Practices. This has been championed by Dr Akinola and
the PPG secretary Canon Dr Chris Sugden. It is still in its early stages,
but over the next year we should see some developments. We don’t want
to offend Kennington Good Neighbours, so we invited Margaret Biggs to
come and tell us how they worked, and Chris Sugden explained the
difference that it is hoped volunteers may make in the future.
I am delighted to report that we recruited four new PPG members at the
AGM, who have each agreed to undertake an area of responsibility. The
future of our PPG looks very positive. I can also report that I was re
elected as Chair and Chris Sugden as Secretary. John Ashton will take
on Deputy Chair. All existing members have roles within the group and
will continue with this in the coming year. Many thanks to everyone who
attended and for becoming part of the PPG. The future holds more
changes, and I feel with the group we can move forward positively.
Sylvia Buckingham
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LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS
P19/V0654/DIS
Botley Centre West Way. Discharge of
condition 13.
14 March
P19/V0696/FUL
Louie Memorial Pavilion, Arnolds Way.
Demolish existing buildings and erect
replacement Pavilion with car park.
25 March
Target Decision
Date 20 May
P19/V0667/FUL
9 Eynsham Road. Demolish existing
dwelling and replace with six purpose
built two-bed flats.
27 March
TDD: 22 May
P19/V0763/HH
56 North Hinksey Lane. Single storey
rear extension.
27 March
TDD: 22 May
P19/V0682/HH
87 Hurst Rise Road. Front single, and
side and rear two storey extensions.
29 March
TDD: 24 May
P19/V0856/PDH
39 Beech Road. Single storey rear
kitchen/dining extension.
5 April17 May
Fabulous 42nd Street!
The Oxfordshire Youth Musical Theatre (OYMT) is for 1419-year-
olds who love to sing, dance and act. OYMT have put on some
incredible performances such as ‘Wicked’ and ‘Les Misérables’,
building a reputation for extremely high-quality shows. I joined OYMT
in September and started work on ‘42nd Street’, our April 2019
production, performed before packed houses at Radley College.
All us newcomers were welcomed into the close-knit group by some
of the loveliest people I’ve met. It was such a nice atmosphere going
into every rehearsal, where we learned our dance numbers, new
songs and made sure we were familiar with the storyline. I came back
home from every rehearsal buzzing with excitement that only grew as
we drew closer to the show. Balancing homework with theatre was
tricky, but doable.
Show week was one of the best times of my life. Everyone was so
eager to get on that stage and make each performance count. Not
one of the cast could say that they didn’t enjoy every minute of it!
During the five performances we all bonded so fast, you could really
tell that OYMT is a true family. From our dressing rooms we would
cheer when the leads finished a tap dance or sang a solo.
One of the backstage crew sent this Facebook message. Fabulous
show last night! Great to emerge from backstage to see the real thing.
So professional, energetic, colourful and glamorous. The singing,
dancing and acting was exceptional. I much preferred it to the West
End version! Huge congratulations to all involved, a brilliant team
effort. Can’t wait to see it again later.
Another great bonus of working alongside such friendly people is how
much it helps with confidence. As the show went on I saw people
really coming out of their shells. Not just in being able to perform in
front of a big audience, but in finding they were able to make such
close friends really quickly and talk to any the cast members.
I have felt so grateful to everyone in OYMT and all the directors and
choreographers and backstage crew for helping to put together a
show that we can all be proud of. I would encourage anyone who likes
to sing and act to sign up because it is an incredible experience that
I wouldn’t miss for the world.
Sally Grainger (standing seventh from right in the photo)
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Hedgehogs Need our Help
As a member of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, I have
been very encouraged to read about Sprout readersrecent sightings
of hedgehogs in our area. As you may be aware, the long-term
survival prospects of hedgehog populations rests on their ability to
move freely between our gardens so that they can forage for food and
find mates. Just one new fence going up in our area can block vital
access to wildlife corridors and put the future of local hedgehogs in
doubt.
This Hedgehog Awareness
Week (5th–11th May) I’d like
to encourage Sprout readers
to link their gardens and
create a hedgehog-sized
hole (the size of a CD) in their
garden fences. As in previous
years, I have five ‘Hedgehog
Highway signs (pictured) to
give away to the first five
readers who get in touch
(roger.dalrymple@spc.oxon.org). You can read more about how to
help hedgehogs at www.hedgehogstreet.org
Roger Dalrymple, British Hedgehog Preservation Society
Brownies Get Crafty
Continuing our New Brownie Programme, we had Sarah, a Brownie
mum come to our Brownie meeting to discuss her job. Again, we
started with the game “Twenty Questionsto guess what she did for
a living, but it did not take long as we had quite forgotten to disguise
the cover of the sewing machine and every girl knew at once what
was underneath it! Therefore, we were straight into Sarah kindly
showing us the amazing variety of items she has produced on a
sewing machine just for herself and family (obviously the tailoring and
alterations for clients stayed at work).
The ooh”s and “aah”s clearly showed how much the girls and leaders
liked the fact that the items were unique indeed we could see the
reversible skirt would be a revolution in the holiday packing scenario.
There were also cute sunhats, Christmas stockings, tops and dresses
all in fabulous fabrics. Then Sarah showed us what could be done by
recycling old garments like denim jeans into a selection of toys
and garments such as the work apron she was wearing. These were
all much admired too. Of course by now, the girls were itching to have
a go and stitch something. Sarah had brought a selection of “starter
sewing kits for each girl and once they had sorted themselves into
groups doing more-or-less the same kit they were away.
The following week was another craft week where we handmade
Mothering Sunday cards. Snowy painted one hand of each girl (in
cold blue paint which tickled!) which they then “hand printed onto
individual cards as the flower stalks and then added an assortment of
coloured stickers as the petals. The hardest part was completing the
sentence on the plant pot, “I love you because…” Some girls tackled
this by producing bullet-pointed lists including, “you make my packed
lunch so I don’t have to have school dinners every dayand “I have
my own bedroom”. However, some just went for the simpler
sentiments “you give great hugsand “you love meand left it at that.
Lastly, to finish our unusual month-long craft-fest we made two types
of Easter bonnets. This was quite a feat as we had combined it with
“Bring a Friend night but the bonnets had to be made before we
broke up for Easter rather than after, so we had to press on!
Lucy Howes
Cumnor Choral Society concert
On Saturday 23rd March in St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Botley, a
very appreciative audience heard a concert of 18th Century works by
Handel and J S Bach and 21st Century pieces by Leslie Perrem and
Penny Squire.
The Hurst Sinfonia, directed by Peter Foster, in chamber mode with
flute, violins, viola, cello, clarinet, harp and harpsichord continuo (by
Foster), performed Bach’s Orchestral Suite No 2. They also provided
two other well-received instrumental works as well as accompanying
the Cumnor Choral Society in two works by Handel. The first was The
Ways of Zion do Mourn” and later in the programme the Chandos
anthem no 9 “O Praise the Lord with One Consent”. These two works,
far less well-known than many of Handel’s pieces, proved a rewarding
challenge for the choir and they sang well.
The Perrem piece “The Isle is Full of Noises” had its world premiere
performance at this concert, and was introduced by the composer.
Set to flute, played by Elizabeth Hobbs, with violins, viola, cello,
clarinet and harp it fitted the
programme admirably and
captivated the audience with
hints of birdsong, wind and
waves, with distant bells. A
quartet then delighted with
'Small precious dots in the
darkness of space', the new
composition by Penny Squire.
The choir also hosted the
traditional buffet in the Church
Hall.
The next concert will be Bach’s
“Christmas Oratorio” on 30th
November, with rehearsals
starting on 13th September.
New singers are very welcome
there is no audition. Contact
Chairman John May 07795
054142 for information or visit
cumnorchoralsociety.wordpress.com
Mike Cockman
Picturing Botley and North Hinksey
Do you have recent photographs of our parish that might work well as
a header for the Parish Council website? We are running a
competition to feature different header images on our website:
www.northhinksey-pc.gov.uk The new website launched in November
with a photo of cyclists entering Willow Walk. While this is a lovely
picture, it would be great to reflect more views of Botley and North
Hinksey. Ideally we will have a
number of winning images that
we can rotate to give a fuller
picture of our parish. All photos
need to work in a letterbox
style format, like the one above
they can be larger and
cropped to shape if necessary.
Please send your photos to me
clerk@northhinksey-pc.gov.uk
We will post them on our
Facebook page in June so that
you can vote for your favourites.
Winners will be notified and
their names and winning
photographs will be announced
on the website, Facebook and
in a future edition of The Sprout.
Colin Ryde, Clerk NHPC
Help with your Under-fives
Botley Bridges is a community charity based at
Botley School in Elms Road. We aim to replace
some of the universal services that were lost when
local Children’s Centres closed in 2017, and serve
families from Botley and surrounding areas. We hold two Stay-and-
play weekly sessions, Monday afternoon 1–3pm and Friday morning
9–11.30am. These sessions are ideal for children under 5 and their
parents/carers to learn together through play. We have a fabulous
outdoor space including a huge sandpit. We hold a Saturdads
session on the first Saturday of the month, from 1012noon. This is
for dads and other male carers to spend quality time with their
children. We serve a healthy snack during all of these sessions.
During school holidays, we also open up our Stay-and-play sessions
to older children too. In the summer we run weekly Fun-in-the-park
sessions. We try to use all the local parks. 2019 will be the third year
that we have provided these popular and well attended sessions.
Look out for our summer programme, coming very soon.
Are you a new parent? Well Baby Clinics run at Botley Bridges every
Wednesday afternoon, from 1–2.30pm. Baby can be weighed and
you can speak to an experienced Community Staff Nurse or Health
Visitor. We hold a supportive weekly Baby Group on Friday
afternoons, 1.15–3pm, based on the PEEP programme which is
particularly suitable for first-time parents; this is a great chance to
meet other local parents and make new friends. We often have
various professionals coming in to talk to us. Volunteers for Baby
Group and all of our Stay-and-play sessions are needed so if you
have some spare time, or have a skill you would like to share, we
would love to hear from you. We also run various parenting courses,
first aid sessions and classes such as English as an additional
language, and helping your child at school throughout the year.
Botley Bridges currently has a Chair, Secretary and Treasurer but
would welcome more non-post-holding Trustees. The workload is
minimal with approximately 8 meetings a year. Somebody from the
local community would be ideal. If you would like more information
about what is involved, contact Sue Dowe (Chair of trustees)
07769275084 or chairman@botleybridges.org. There is more about
us on our website www.botleybridges.org, find us on Facebook, email
us at coordinator@botleybridges.org or call 07498563636
Randoms
Art Weeks in Botley
Following the success of last year's inaugural community exhibition,
the Louie Memorial Pavilion Open Art Exhibition returns for Art Weeks
on 4-5th May, 11-4pm each day. Please contact @Catherine Casley
or via FB page for submitting your last minute entries! All media, all
ages, first timers to experienced artists, are welcome! Open to
anyone in Botley. Cake sale and refreshments will be available.
Emmett Casley
Mid Eastern Vegan, 1st June
There’s a pop-up vegan, mid-eastern event at the Botley Baptist Church’s
Manna Café on the first floor of the Seacourt Hall, West Way Place at 7 pm
on 1 June 2019. The event is one of a series created by Witney-based The
Yafo Kitchen. The price is £30 per head for adults. Call Shai on
07710148111 for enquiries and to book. He will negotiate on price for young
children.
Grant Nightingale
Organizations: If your organization is not listed here, please send details to
editor@thesprout.org.uk or telephone 724452 for inclusion.
1st Botley Brownies
Girls aged 7–10
2nd Botley Brownies
Girls aged 7–10
4th Oxford Scout Group
Beavers, Cub Scouts, Scouts
15th Oxford Scout Group
Boys and girls welcome
Baby & Toddler Group
Badminton Club
Books on Wheels R.V.S.
Botley Boys & Girls F.C.
Football teams from ages 8-16
Botley Health Walks
Botley Library
Botley Singers
Branches Café, Westway
Place, Open to All 8am-3pm,
Community Fridge
Cumnor Choral Society
Cumnor Chess Club
Cumnor & District Historical
Society
Cumnor Gardening Club
Harmony InSpires, Ladies'
Acappella Singing Group
Hill End Volunteer Team
Let’s Sing! – singing group
Morris Dancing – Cry Havoc
Mum and Baby Yoga for
babies from 6 wks to crawling
North Hinksey Preschool
and Childcare Clubs
N Hinksey Art Group
N Hinksey Bellringers
N Hinksey Conservation
Volunteers
N Hinksey, Friends of
N Hinksey Horticultural Soc
N Hinksey Parish Council
N Hinksey Youth Club
Over Sixties Lunch Club
Oxford Flood Alliance
Oxfd Flower Arranging Club
Oxford Otters
Oxford Rugby Club
Oxford Sports Lawn Tennis
Club, N Hinksey
Parkinson’s Disease Soc
Raleigh Park, Friends of
Saturdads
Botley Bridges
Seacourt Hall management
committee
Shotokan Karate club
Weight Watchers
West Oxford Bowls Club
West Oxford Taekwon Do
Club
West Oxford U3A
West Way Day Centre
Women’s Institute (Botley)